Mold and your Air ConditionerUnknown to most homeowners, your air conditioner is caught in a complicated love-hate relationship with the mold in your home.  It’s a strange fate since your central cooling unit can be both a mold fighter and a source for mold growth at the same time.

Humidity Control

Your air conditioner is a simple de-humidifier.  It’s not directly intended but, due to how refrigeration works, your air conditioner actively dries out the air when it’s running properly.  As the temperature changes around the unit, vents, and evaporator coils, water condenses on their surfaces.  Mold thrives in humidity when it’s great than 45% (if you have a smart thermostat, it should list the average humidity inside your home) and air conditioners will often reduce the humidity inside your home to 45% or less.

Of course, dry air is not all it’s cracked up to be.  Excessively dry homes can leave you with cracked skin, a sore throat in the morning, and will make it harder to stay warm in the winter.  Likewise, keeping the air dry during the summer has the added benefit of making it easier to cool down.  So dry air, mixed with a fan, will decrease how much mold is in your home and help you to keep cool (both are excellent for the DFW Metroplex).

If the humidity in your home isn’t exactly what you’d like (aim for 45%), try using a humidifier or de-humidifier to reach the desired temperature.  This is especially true for rainy seasons like we’ve been experiencing recently.  When it’s cool enough outside to avoid using the air conditioner, it’s usually due to rainstorms.  The high humidity is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.  A dehumidifier is a cheaper alternative to running your AC.  So use a dehumidifier when it’s cool outside instead of cranking up the AC to keep your air dry.

Condensation

While your air conditioner does a good job at controlling the climate, it does have one drawback.  Central cooling pulls water out of the air during the cooling process.  That water has to go somewhere and it usually ends up on the condenser coils and evaporator.  Once water has collected, it drips away into a spill drain or drain pan.  This water is usually led to the outside or evaporates quickly enough that it isn’t a problem.  High humidity in the home, a malfunctioning AC unit, or a clogged condensate drain line can lead to water that leaks out and spills into your home.  Once this water has leaked out, it can damage walls, insulation, and flooring.  As an added ‘bonus,’ the water both inside and out of the drain line can be a safe-haven for mold growth.  If you notice water pooling around your AC unit, we recommend calling a repair man and inspecting the unit and walls for mold growth.


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